On Friday evening, one of the East Village’s few vegan pizzerias locked its doors for the last time. The restaurant, run by a chef with a national profile in plant-based cooking, had opened with high expectations. Its closure comes as September brings a new wave of restaurant and bar shutdowns across New York City.
Staff at the pizzeria declined to comment on the decision to close. Neighbors on Avenue A noted the sudden darkening of the storefront as a sign of the shifting retail landscape. The space, once busy with weekend delivery drivers and late-night diners, now sits empty.
This closure is part of a broader pattern seen in the first week of the month. Several other small dining and drinking establishments, including a coffee shop on the Lower East Side and a wine bar in Prospect Heights, have also closed since Labor Day.
Operators cite rising costs and unpredictable customer turnout as factors. The vegan spot’s weekday lunch business had slowed over the summer, according to a nearby deli owner. The pizzeria’s specialty pies had drawn a mix of neighborhood regulars and vegan tourists, but tables were often empty by early evening.
The restaurant’s landlord has not announced new plans for the space. For now, another East Village storefront joins the growing tally of September closures.